1
as in apostasy
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2
as in desertion
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Recent Examples of defection
Part of a wave of dissident departures, Carvajal’s defection was akin to a dam breaking, then-US Senator Marco Rubio said at the time.
—
Max Saltman, CNN Money, 26 Apr. 2026
The outcome gives House Republicans — who had a 217 to 214 majority leading up to Fuller's victory — another seat as any one defection has threatened to derail their legislative agenda in recent months.
—Caitlin Yilek, CBS News, 8 Apr. 2026
The defection brings Carney’s Liberals to 171 seats, just one short of the 172-seat majority needed to pass any bill without opposition support.
—Rob Gillies, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2026
As the 2026 tourney gets underway, the networks in the TNT Sports portfolio now reach a little under 60 million homes, and with an annual defection rate that’s been holding steady at 8%, CBS’ cable partners will likely land on the wrong side of 50 million subs by the end of 2027.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 20 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for defection
Max Saltman, CNN Money, 26 Apr. 2026
The outcome gives House Republicans — who had a 217 to 214 majority leading up to Fuller's victory — another seat as any one defection has threatened to derail their legislative agenda in recent months.
—Caitlin Yilek, CBS News, 8 Apr. 2026
The defection brings Carney’s Liberals to 171 seats, just one short of the 172-seat majority needed to pass any bill without opposition support.
—Rob Gillies, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2026
As the 2026 tourney gets underway, the networks in the TNT Sports portfolio now reach a little under 60 million homes, and with an annual defection rate that’s been holding steady at 8%, CBS’ cable partners will likely land on the wrong side of 50 million subs by the end of 2027.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 20 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for defection
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defection
Noun
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Dara Shikoh was accused of apostasy from Islam and tried under religious authority.—
Tamanna Nangia,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 Apr. 2026
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For Pittsburghers, whose city had for so long been singularly defined by the production of steel, the idea that industrial competitiveness was not paramount bordered on apostasy.—
Christopher Briem,
The Conversation,
25 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Why this is happening is clear from a radio intercept about a similar incident, shared with CNN, in which a Russian commander can clearly be heard ordering a subordinate be tied up in this way as punishment for desertion.—
Andrew Carey,
CNN Money,
28 July 2025
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Eddie Slovik was executed by a firing squad for desertion, the first American soldier since the Civil War to be executed in such a manner and the only solider in World War II to receive such a punishment.—
Lorenzino Estrada,
AZCentral.com,
2 July 2025
Noun
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The Daily Dividend Pope Leo's call for AI regulation has created a schism within the White House.—
Alex Harring,
CNBC,
27 May 2026
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In the intervening years, this most consequential bilateral relationship in the world had become dysfunctional, battered by a cascade of schisms including a global pandemic, increasing ideological antagonism, accelerating geopolitical rivalry, and surging trade tension.—
Lyle Goldstein,
Time,
19 May 2026
Noun
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The condition is marked by intense emotional swings, a chronic feeling of emptiness, and a deep fear of abandonment.—
Angela Haupt,
Time,
11 June 2026
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The ballad also aligns with the perspective of Jessie’s (Joan Cusack) abandonment and eventual joining of Woody (Tom Hanks) and Buzz’s (Tim Allen) crew of toys that once belonged to Andy and now live with Bonnie.—
Dessi Gomez,
Deadline,
9 June 2026
Noun
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The second major structural change involves one of the hallmarks of SARS-CoV-2 as compared to SARS-CoV-1: initial scission at the S1 furin cleavage site.—
William A. Haseltine,
Forbes,
6 May 2022
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Wilson cautions more work is needed to explain how exactly spin results after scission.—
Charles Q. Choi,
Scientific American,
24 Feb. 2021
Noun
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But despite its powerful, hopeful message that Americans on both sides of the political aisle can engage in civil discourse even as sectarianism tears the nation apart, streamers steered clear of the film.—
Addie Morfoot,
Variety,
19 Nov. 2025
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And the leadership at Egypt’s al-Azhar, the world’s leading Sunni seminary and academic institution, repudiated the dominant Saudi discourse on sectarianism—the excommunication of Shiites—and strongly defended Shiism as a mainstream Muslim denomination.—
PAYAM MOHSENI,
Foreign Affairs,
24 Jan. 2017
Noun
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Betrayals and scandals like this are endemic to reality TV; the Bravoverse in particular is still living in the long shadow of 2023’s Scandoval, the tectonic collapse inside Vanderpump Rules that was also fueled by inter-group infidelity.—
Kathryn VanArendonk,
Vulture,
10 June 2026
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At one point, Gates testified that Epstein used his infidelity to his wife Melinda Gates to try to keep their relationship intact.—
Lauren Green,
The Washington Examiner,
10 June 2026
Noun
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In contrast to other, more mainstream Civil Rights organizations, SNCC leaders began to emphasize Black separatism, which alienated white participants.—
Time,
Time,
7 Aug. 2025
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Outside Kuhn's board chambers, Courthouse Square immediately evokes the country's history of separatism, or unity, depending on one’s point of view, with a statue of President Abe Lincoln on the front lawn, stove top hat in hand.—
John Tuohy,
IndyStar,
3 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Defection.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defection. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
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